18. Don't make a statue that looks like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish that swims in the water.
19. When you look up at the heavens, you will see the sun and moon. And you will see huge numbers of stars. Don't let anyone tempt you to bow down to the sun, moon or stars. Don't worship things the Lord your God has provided for all of the nations on earth.
20. Egypt was like a furnace that melts iron down and makes it pure. But the Lord took you and brought you out of Egypt. He wanted you to be his very own people. And that's exactly what you are.
21. The Lord was angry with me because of what you did. He took an oath that he would never let me go across the Jordan River. He promised that I would never enter that good land. It's the land the Lord your God is giving you as your own.
22. I'll die here in this land. I won't go across the Jordan. But you are about to cross over it. And you are about to take that good land as your own.
23. Be careful. Don't forget the covenant the Lord your God made with you. Don't make for yourselves a statue of any god at all. He has told you not to. So don't do it.
24. The Lord your God is like a fire that burns everything up. He's a jealous God.
25. You will have children and grandchildren. And you will live in the land a long time. But don't commit a horrible sin. Don't make a statue of a god. If you do, that will be an evil thing in the sight of the Lord your God. You will make him angry.
26. I'm calling out to heaven and earth to be witnesses against you this very day. If you do those things, you will quickly die in the land you are going across the Jordan River to take over. You won't live there very long. You will certainly be destroyed.
27. The Lord will drive you out of your land. He will scatter you among the nations. Only a few of you will remain alive there.
28. There you will worship gods that men have made out of wood and stone. Those gods can't see, hear, eat or smell.
29. Perhaps while you are there, you will look to the Lord your God. You will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
30. All of the things I've told you about might happen to you. And you will be in trouble. But later you will return to the Lord your God. You will obey him.
31. The Lord your God is tender and loving. He won't leave you or destroy you. He won't forget the covenant he made with your people long ago. He took an oath when he made it.
32. Ask now about the days of long ago. Learn what happened long before your time. Ask about what has happened since the time God created man on the earth. Ask from one end of the world to the other. Has anything as great as this ever happened? Has anything like it ever been heard of?
33. You heard the voice of God speaking out of fire. And you lived! Has that happened to any other people?
34. Has any god ever tried to take one nation out of another to be his own? Has any god done it by putting his people to the test? Has any god done it with miraculous signs and wonders or with a war? Has any god reached out his mighty hand and powerful arm? Or has any god shown his people his great and wonderful acts? The Lord your God did all of those things for you in Egypt. With your very own eyes you saw him do them.